Midfielder Sean Ryan admits that the resignation of Eamon Kelly as Offaly senior hurling manager stunned the Faithful County camp.

The Tipp native has stepped aside after just one season at the helm and Ryan says he will be missed: "We always felt that he would be back again next year and whatever had to be done to keep him there would have been done and it's a bit of shock to the system," he told The Irish Independent.

"It was the first time I was really exposed to what a top-class intercounty set-up was. Eamonn put some serious structures in place which hadn't been seen for the last number of years.

"It's a huge commitment but with the right structures in place and when the right things are being done, it's definitely a lot easier for a player to buy into it.

"When a player walks over the line there's a lot of things going into that player to get him onto the pitch on championship day. Eamonn was brilliant with the players and made sure they had everything they needed, both on and off the pitch. There was no stone left unturned."

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